FAC tool flexible assembly and method

ABSTRACT

A flexible assembly is provided for a fill-up and circulation (FAC) tool. The flexible assembly preferably comprises a flexible hose portion and a rigid tubular housing portion. The flexible assembly is attached to the tool body of the FAC tool below the casing seal of the FAC tool. The casing seal is utilized for sealing with an interior surface of an upper joint of a casing string. Preferably a tapered guide is provided at a lower end of the flexible assembly and a fluid outlet may preferably be formed in the tapered guide. The flexible assembly preferably has an overall length such that the tapered guide is positioned within the interior of the upper joint of the casing string when the fill-up and circulation tool is attached to a standard traveling block assembly and the elevator casing gripping slips attached to the traveling block assembly are engaged with the upper joint of the casing string.

[0001] This application is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 09/557,229, filed Apr. 24, 2000, which claimspriority from U.S. Provisional Application, Serial No. 60/131,887, filedApr. 30, 1999.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0002] This invention relates to fill-up and circulating (FAC) toolsutilized during completion of subterranean wells, and more specificallyto a flexible assembly for a fill-up and circulation (FAC) tool.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0003] Fill-up and circulation tools are well known in the prior art. Anexemplary fill-up and circulation (FAC) tool is described in U.S. Pat.No. 5,584,343, issued Dec. 17, 1996, to the present inventor Malcolm G.Coone of Davis-Lynch, Inc., Pearland, Tex., and is hereby incorporatedherein by reference in its entirety. This FAC tool is provided in aunitary construction to thereby perform both fill-up and circulatingfunctions whenever needed as is especially useful when running casing.

[0004] The procedure for drilling and completing subterranean wells torecover, for example, oil and gas from a reservoir, consists of boring ahole in the earth down to the reservoir of interest and installing pipefrom the reservoir to the surface. Casing is used as a protective linerwithin the well bore that is cemented in place to insure apressure-tight connection to the oil and gas reserve. The casingconsists of lengths of tubulars, or joints. Casing is typically run intothe well bore one joint at a time. Casing is lifted and lowered by thetraveling block of the rig. As the casing is run into the well bore, itis often desirable to fill the casing with fluid. For example, drillingfluid may be added to the casing string to provide counter-pressureagainst the interior walls of the casing string to prevent the casingfrom being damaged by the high pressures encountered in the well boreand/or to aid the rig equipment in lowering or floating the casingstring into the wellbore.

[0005] The fill-up and circulation tool is mounted to the travelingblock for movement with the traveling block and is fluidly connected tothe rig fluid pumps through a hose or other piping means. The fill-upand circulation tool must be positioned such that at any desired time,the fill-up and circulation tool can be used to fill the casing.However, the elevators will typically have a particular length of bails,which may typically vary, depending on the particular rig, and may alsodepend on dimensions, construction, and other casing running equipmentsuch as spiders, various platforms, and the like. Thus, prior artfill-up and circulation (FAC) tools may provide means for adjusting thelength of the FAC tool to position the FAC tool so as to be ready forfilling the casing.

[0006] However, the FAC tool also provides fluid circulation functions.The unfinished well bore has rough sides of raw earth, and on occasion,the casing becomes stuck against irregularities in the sides of the wellbore as it is lowered down. If this occurs, it may be desirable tocirculate fluid through the well. The FAC tool provides this functionwithout the need to threadably attach a circulating head to the top ofthe casing, thereby saving significant time and money. In this case, aseal on the FAC tool is then typically lowered into the uppermost casingjoint by moving the traveling blocks while holding the uppermost casingjoint in position, such as with a spider assembly. After insertion ofthe seal into the casing joint, circulation may begin whereby fluid iscirculated down the casing string and out the lower end thereof. Thefluid exits the casing and flows into the annular space between theexternal side of the casing and the sides of the well bore to washmaterial therefrom and free the casing from the well bore. The fluidthen returns to the surface whereupon it is filtered after which thefluid may be pumped to circulate through the casing string again. Therelative spacing of a fill-up and circulation tool should preferably bethe same for both the fill-up function and the circulation functions.

[0007] Therefore, in the prior art, it was often necessary to adjust thelength of each FAC tool for the particular spacing needed with aparticular drilling/workover rig configuration. This may have requiredadding or removing extension sections and may also have beenaccomplished by other time consuming means which required measurementsof rig equipment, extra mechanical connections, adjustments, and soforth.

[0008] Other factors which may complicate the length adjustment mayinclude the need for occasionally adding weight to the casing string toforce the casing down through rough spots in the wellbore whiletypically circulating fluid down the interior of the casing at the sametime. Thus, the length adjustment should be built with such requirementsin mind.

[0009] During circulation, the fill-up and circulation tool mayexperience high pressures from the wellbore. These pressures act toforce the tool up and out of the casing. Traditionally, such tools areprevented from being pushed out of the casing merely by the travelingblock to which the tool is attached and the hook or other assembly whichattaches the tool to the traveling block. Sometimes the traveling blockmay have a push plate to push the tubular into the borehole. In accordwith the patent application to this continuation-in-part, i.e., U.S.patent application Ser. No. 09/557,229, a “tie-down” is provided toprevent the tool from being ejected from the casing by down holepressures. Thus, the length assembly of the present invention maytherefore preferably operate with or without such a tie-down. Thetie-down has many advantages as discussed in detail in the parent tothis application.

[0010] Those skilled in the art will appreciate the present inventionwhich addresses the above and other problems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improvedFAC tool.

[0012] It is another object of the present invention to provide aflexible lower assembly for the FAC tool.

[0013] A feature of a preferred embodiment of the present invention is alower assembly comprising a flexible hose.

[0014] Another feature of a preferred embodiment of the invention is arigid tubular attached to the flexible hose.

[0015] It is an advantage of the present invention to utilize theflexible lower assembly of the present invention for a wide range of rigconstructions including elevators with widely different bale lengths.

[0016] It is another advantage of the present invention to enable theflexible lower assembly to be easily stabbed into a casing joint thatmay be askew from the vertical.

[0017] These and other objects, and/or features, and/or advantages ofthe present invention will become apparent from the drawings, thedescriptions given herein, and the appended claims. However, it will beunderstood that above listed objectives of the invention are intendedonly as an aid in understanding aspects of the invention, are notintended to limit the invention in any way, and do not form acomprehensive list of objectives, and/or features, and/or advantages ofthe invention.

[0018] In accordance with the present invention, an assembly for afill-up and circulation tool is provided wherein the fill-up andcirculation tool may be operable with a rig when inserting a casingstring into a wellbore. The fill-up and circulation tool may comprise atool body and a casing seal mounted to the tool body for sealing with aninterior surface of an upper joint of the casing string. The rig maycomprise a traveling block assembly to which the fill-up and circulationtool is attachable. Casing gripping slips may preferably be mounted tothe traveling block assembly for engaging the upper joint of the casingstring. The assembly may comprise one or more elements such as, forinstance, a flexible hose secured to the tool body of the fill-up andcirculation tool, and a rigid tubular housing secured to the flexiblehose whereby the rigid tubular housing is insertable into the upperjoint of the casing string.

[0019] The assembly may further comprise a guide forming a lower end ofthe rigid tubular housing. The guide may preferably be operable forguiding insertion of the FAC tool into the upper joint of the casingstring. The guide may preferably have a tapered surface and/or the guidemay define a fluid outlet.

[0020] Preferably, an overall length of the flexible hose and the rigidtubular housing is provided such that the guide is positioned within aninterior of the upper joint of the casing string when the fill-up andcirculation tool is attached to the traveling block assembly and thecasing gripping slips are engaged with the upper joint of the casingstring. In one preferred embodiment, the flexible hose supports a lowerrigid tubular assembly. The casing seal of the FAC tool may be above theflexible hose. The rigid tubular housing may define a fluid outlet.

[0021] In one embodiment, an assembly is provided for use with asubterranean drilling rig when running a casing string into a wellboreand wherein the casing string may have an upper joint of casing. Theassembly may comprise one or more elements such as, for instance, a rigwith a traveling block, an elevator, elevator slips mounted to theelevator, and bails connecting the traveling block with respect to theelevator. A fill-up and circulation tool is attachable to the travelingblock of the rig in accord with the present invention. The fill-up andcirculation tool may comprise a tool body and a casing seal operable forsealing with the interior of the upper joint of casing and a flexiblehose secured to the tool body for insertion into the upper joint ofcasing.

[0022] The assembly may further comprise a rigid tubular secured to theflexible hose at an opposite end thereof from the tool body. The taperedguide is preferably attached to a lower end of the rigid tubular. Theflexible hose and the rigid tubular in combination have an overalllength such that at least a portion of the flexible hose and an entirelength of the rigid tubular is positioned within an interior of theupper joint of the casing string when the fill-up and circulation toolis attached to the traveling block assembly and the casing grippingslips are engaged with the upper joint of the casing string.

[0023] A method for constructing the flexible lower assembly of afill-up and circulation tool for use in a subterranean well may compriseone or more steps such as, for instance, mounting a flexible hose to thetool body; and mounting a rigid tubular to the flexible hose on anopposite side of the flexible hose from the tool body.

[0024] The method of claim may further comprise other steps such asproviding a guide at a lower end of the rigid tubular wherein the guidemay be insertable into the upper joint of the casing string. Additionalmethod steps may comprise providing a tapered exterior surface on theguide and/or forming a fluid outlet adjacent the rigid tubular and/orproviding an overall length of the flexible hose and the rigid tubularsuch that rigid tubular is completely contained within an interior ofthe upper joint of the casing string when the fill-up and circulationtool is attached to the traveling block assembly and the casing grippingslips are engaged with the upper joint of the casing string.

[0025] The invention is best understood by the following detaileddescription taken in conjunction with the drawings. These are intendedas only illustrative and not limitative, as the invention may admit toother embodiments to these of skill in the art.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] A more complete understanding of the invention and many of theattendant advantages thereto will be readily appreciated as the samebecomes better understood by reference to the following detaileddescription when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawingwherein corresponding reference characters indicate corresponding partsthroughout several views of the drawings and wherein:

[0027]FIG. 1 is a front view of a FAC tool rig assembly shown in partialcross section and showing the present tie-down tool;

[0028]FIG. 2 is a top view of a tie-down tool sub assembly of thepresent invention; and

[0029]FIG. 3 is a detail of FIG. 1 showing a tie-down connection to thelower eye of the bails.

[0030] While the present invention will be described in connection withpresently preferred embodiments, it will be understood that it is notintended to limit the invention to those embodiments. On the contrary,it is intended to cover all alternatives, modifications, and equivalentsincluded within the spirit of the invention and as defined in theappended claims.

PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0031] Referring now to the drawings and, more particularly to FIG. 1, afill-up and circulating (FAC) tool 1 is shown as an example toillustrate the present tool tie-down. FAC tool 1, in many ways, issubstantially similar to the FAC tool described in U.S. Pat. No.5,584,343. FAC tool 1 includes a radially expandable sealing or packersection 2, a flexible hose 3, non-flexible and typically metallictubular sub 4, and guide cone 4A. The valve, as contained by FAC tools,may preferably be included in sub 4 or guide cone 4A. However, the valvecould be located elsewhere as desired. A typical valve assembly that maybe used with the present invention is shown and discussed in some detailin U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,343. Other valve assemblies could also beutilized which preferably shut off fluid flow after the pumps stop toavoid drainage onto the rig floor and provide a relief valve to relievepressure below the valve after circulation.

[0032] Essentially, flexible hose 3 and sub 4 form the flexible assemblyof the present invention in conjunction with FAC tool 1. Flexible hose 3permits the flexible assembly of the present invention to be easilystabbed (inserted) into any joint of casing, such as casing joint 26,during the casing running process even if the casing joint is askew fromthe vertical as may often occur when stabbing. Thus, the necessarylength is not constrained by the particular rig configuration and/orangle at which FAC tool 1 is stabbed into casing joint 26. On the otherhand, flexible hose 3 and sub 4 are provided to be sufficiently long sothat with virtually any standard length of bales 30, outlet 10 remainsinside of casing joint 26. Thus, in accord with the present invention, astandard assembly of flexible hose 3 and sub 4 can be used withvirtually any oil well rig configuration. The assembly therefore savesthe time and cost of utilizing well experts to calculate the necessarylength of FAC tool 1 and the time and cost of extending/reducing thelength thereof. Moreover, no additional or alternative assemblycomponents are needed or required for various rig configurations.Therefore, the flexible length assembly of the present inventionsubstantially reduces costs for each use due to a more simplifiedoperation.

[0033] Sub 4 will typically be a metallic cylindrical housing andpreferably has a length and weight sufficient to prevent, under anycircumstances, outlet 10 pointing upwardly or being able to whip out ofthe interior of casing joint 26. Sub 4 will typically be greater thanone foot long and may preferably be constructed to be in the range offrom about two to ten feet in length. Flexible hose 3 may beapproximately in the same range of length of sub 4. However, flexiblehose 3 may be shorter than sub 4 or could be longer than sub 4, ifdesired.

[0034] Sub 4 and/or guide cone 4A may typically include a pressureoperated valve with reverse flow check valves, which may be of a commontype used in FAC tools such as the valve assembly, check valves, and soforth shown in the aforementioned U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,343. The valveassembly may be located in guide cone 4A, in the body of sub 4, or asdesired. Thus, when filling the casing string, fluid will flow throughFAC tool 1, through flexible hose 3, through sub 4, open the pressureoperated valve wherever the valve is located, and flow out throughoutlet 10. Normally, packer 2 is outside of the top casing joint, suchas casing joint 26, during filling.

[0035] When it is desired to circulate, the traveling block, bales 30,slips 20, and FAC tool 1, are lowered with respect to the top casingjoint, such as casing joint 26, until packer 2 is inserted within thetop casing joint. Fluid is pumped in the same way as explained above andpacker 2 seals pressure therebelow. Packer 2 may be of manyconstructions and types of seals although details of a preferred packerassembly is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,584,343. Once circulation hasbeen completed, then FAC tool 1 can be withdrawn, and the process ofrunning the casing can continue, if it is not already complete.

[0036] The flexible length assembly of the present invention may beutilized with a tie-down assembly, if desired. Such a tie-down assemblyis described hereinafter.

[0037] Upper mandrel 5 is connected to sealing section 2, which may notcomprise a packer or other type of sealing assembly. Upper mandrel 5comprises a threaded portion 6 distal to sealing section 2. The top end7 of the tool is threadedly connected to threaded portion 6 of uppermandrel 5, comprises upper port 8, and is connected to a standard rigtraveling block hook 51 by means of a U-bolt yoke mechanism 9. At theother end, guide cone 4A is equipped with a lower port or outlet 10.Fluid may be pumped downhole through ports 8 and 10. The FAC tool 1 maybe a filling and circulating tool, depending on the position of sealingsection 2, such as described in the '343 patent. Those skilled in theart, however, will appreciate that FAC tool is presented herein only asan example to illustrate the present tool tie-down, and that a varietyof tools other than FAC tools will benefit from the present inventiontie-down tool.

[0038] Elevator slips 20 grip casing 26 below casing collar 28. Slips 20comprise slip eyes 22 and grippers 24. Bails 30 connect slips 20 to thetraveling block as shown which supports the weight of the casing.Tie-down yoke mechanism 32 of the present invention, has an unthreadedbore 34 which slides over the upper threaded part of mandrel 5. Thetie-down yoke 32 is limited in downward movement by vertical tighteningsleeve 33 to secure tie-down yoke mechanism 32 in a desired verticalposition on mandrel 5 and against upward movement by force from below.The sleeve 33 is threadedly attached to FAC tool mandrel 5. Typically,the tie-down yoke mechanism 32 maybe positioned with respect to mandrel5 by sliding tie-down yoke mechanism 32 and screwing sleeve 33 down onmandrel 5 at threaded portion 6 prior to installing top sub 7. Thentightening sleeve 33 upwardly on mandrel 5 against the bottom of yoke 32to secure yoke mechanism 32 in a desired vertical position on mandrel 5.Tie-down yoke mechanism 32 may be mounted with the ends surroundingbails 30 in a snug, but slideable relationship such that bails 30prevent rotation of tie-down yoke mechanism 32. Tie-down yoke mechanism32 may be frictionally engaged with bails 30 as controlled by horizontaltightening bolts 40. An outer arm portion 42 of yoke mechanism 32 may beformed to accommodate links 30. Horizontal tightening bolts 40 alsofrictionally secure tie-down connectors or eyes 44 to tie-down yokemechanism 32.

[0039] Tie-down members 46 comprise cord members, fabricated, forexample, a metal or metal alloy, a fiber, or combinations thereof, andconnects tie-down yoke mechanism 32 to bails 30, which in turn areconnected to elevator slips 20. Tie-down connector 44 may loop throughupper (or top) tie-down eye 48 or eye 40 at one end, and lower tie-downeye 50 may loop through lower eye 52 of bail 30, at the other end. Otherinterconnections and variations, which may or may not include otherclamps, u-connectors, and the like, may also be utilized depending onthe rigsite situation.

[0040] Tie-down members 46 preferably comprise a material having hightensile strength. The tensile strength should be sufficient so that oneor more tie-down members is able to secure a tool in a desired positionin the casing against the back pressures and forces acting on the tool.A suitable material may be selected by estimating the forces that willbe encountered, and selecting a material of known strength from which tofabricate tie-down members 46. The properties of a suitable material fortie-down 46 include a high strength to weight ratio, low stretchcharacteristics, i.e. inelastic, high wear and flex fatigue resistance,and low- to non-rotational characteristics. It would also be useful ifthe material could be spliced readily. The material should also toleratethe extreme temperature, acid, caustic, and corrosive conditions thatmaybe encountered in the field.

[0041] An example of a suitable tie-down material is Amsteel Blue™(formerly Spectron 12 plus™), a commercially available synthetic fiberavailable from The American Group. Amsteel Blue™ has sufficient tensilestrength, exceeding that of metallic steel, and also tolerates well theextreme temperature, acid, caustic, and corrosive environments that maybe encountered at a drilling site or downhole. Amsteel Blue™ isrecommended for a variety of applications, including mooring lines, tugassist lines, face and wing wires, seismic tow lines, winch lines,pulling lines, wire rope replacement, and of particular note forspecialty rigging lines. Amsteel Blue™ also floats, a feature which maybe useful for offshore operations.

[0042] In addition to synthetic or composite fibers, the material oftie-down member 46 may comprise a unitary metallic wire or metallicthreads woven together. Tie-down member 46 may further comprise acomposite of synthetic fibers and metallic wire woven together to form acord. In short, the cords may be fabricated, for example from anelastomer, a metal or metal alloy, a fiber, or combinations thereof.

[0043] The material may be woven or braided, such as in a rope, to formupper and lower tie-down eyes, 48, 50, respectively. Braiding thematerial to form the eyes may be accomplished by providing a length ofbraided material, forming loops at either end of the length and thenjoining the ends to the body by splicing such as by braiding or weavingthe ends into the body. Alternatively, the material may be formed tocomprise loops or other suitable linkages.

[0044]FIG. 2 is a top view of tie-down yoke mechanism 32. Bails 30 aresandwiched by outer arms or plates 54 of yoke mechanism 32. Plates 54can be tightened against bails 30 with shackle 40. Shackle 40 comprisesa tightening bolt which connects opposing plates 54 whereby shackle 40can be tightened against plates 54 to contain bails 30. Yoke mechanism32 further comprises unthreaded bore 34 sized to receive mandrel 5.

[0045]FIG. 3 is a detail of lower tie-down connection 52. Tie-down eye50 is looped through bail eye 52 in the same way a suitcase tag with anelastic loop is looped through the handle of a suitcase. In this way,tie-downs can be attached to a bail eye without any special subassemblyor connectors. This is an advantage of using a cord over using steellinks. Steel links are rigid, and require connecting hooks and blocks toattach to the rigid link eyes of steel links to the rig. The flexibletension member, or tie-down, of the present invention requires noadditional equipment to connect the tie-down yoke mechanism 32 to thebails.

[0046] Thus, in operation the flexible length assembly of the presentinvention, which includes flexible hose 3 and non-flexible tubularsection 4, may be stabbed into each joint of casing as slips 20 arelowered over the top of the joint of casing. When FAC tool 1 isconnected to the traveling block, such as through traveling block hook51, and slips 20 engage the top of upper casing joint 26 for grippingpurposes, then the flexible length assembly comprising flexible hose 3and non-flexible tubular section 4 has a combined length such thatoutlet 10 through which fluid exits FAC tool 1, is within the interiorof upper casing joint 26 and preferably, such that packer 2 is above thetop of upper casing joint 26. It is preferable, for the sake of avoidingwear on packer 2, that packer 2 be mounted so as to remain above the topof upper casing joint 26 during normal casing fill-up operation. Ifcirculation is necessary, then spiders, slips, or other gripping means,are activated so that casing joint 26 is supported by the spiders and/orother gripping devices so as to be fixed in position. Traveling blockhook 51, bales 30, slips 20, and FAC tool 1, may then be easily loweredwith respect to casing joint 26 such that packer 2 engages and sealswith the interior of casing joint 26. Circulation may then be instigatedand continue so long as desired. After circulation is completed,traveling block hook 51, bales 30, slips 20, and FAC tool 1 may beraised with respect to casing joint 26. Slips 26 may then engage casingjoint 26 and thereby lower the casing string into the wellbore asdesired.

[0047] The foregoing descriptions may make other variations orembodiments apparent to those of skill in the art. It is the aim of theappended claims to cover all such changes and modifications which fallwithin the true spirit and scope of the invention.

What is claimed is:
 1. An assembly for a fill-up and circulation tool,said fill-up and circulation tool being operable with a rig wheninserting a casing string into a wellbore, said fill-up and circulationtool comprising a tool body and a casing seal mounted to said tool bodyfor sealing with an interior surface of an upper joint of said casingstring, said rig comprising a traveling block assembly to which saidfill-up and circulation tool is attachable, and casing gripping slipsmounted to said traveling block assembly for engaging said upper jointof said casing string, said assembly comprising: a flexible hose securedto said tool body of said fill-up and circulation tool; and a rigidtubular housing secured to said flexible hose for insertion in saidupper joint of said casing string.
 2. The assembly of claim 1, furthercomprising a guide forming a lower end of said rigid tubular housing,said guide being operable for insertion into said upper joint of saidcasing string.
 3. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said guide has atapered surface.
 4. The assembly of claim 2, wherein said guide definesa fluid outlet.
 5. The assembly of claim 2, wherein an overall length ofsaid flexible hose and said rigid tubular housing is such that saidguide is positioned within an interior of said upper joint of saidcasing string when said fill-up and circulation tool is attached to saidtraveling block assembly and said casing gripping slips are engaged withsaid upper joint of said casing string.
 6. The assembly of claim 1,wherein said flexible hose is attached secured between said rigidtubular assembly and said casing seal.
 7. The assembly of claim 1,wherein said rigid tubular housing defines a fluid outlet.
 8. Anassembly for use with a subterranean drilling rig when running a casingstring into a wellbore, said casing string having an upper joint ofcasing, said assembly comprising: a rig having a traveling block, anelevator, elevator slips mounted to said elevator, and bails connectingsaid traveling block with respect to said elevator; a fill-up andcirculation tool attached to said traveling block of said rig, saidfill-up and circulation tool comprising a tool body and a casing sealoperable for sealing with an interior of said upper joint of casing,said fill-up and circulation tool being mounted to said traveling blockfor movement with said traveling block; and a flexible hose secured tosaid tool body for insertion into said upper joint of casing.
 9. Theassembly of claim 8, further comprising: a rigid tubular secured to saidflexible hose at an opposite end thereof from said tool body.
 10. Theassembly of claim 9, further comprising: a tapered guide attached to alower end of said rigid tubular.
 11. The assembly of claim 9, whereinsaid flexible hose and said rigid tubular in combination have an overalllength such that at least a portion of said flexible hose and an entirelength of said rigid tubular is positioned within an interior of saidupper joint of said casing string when said fill-up and circulation toolis attached to said traveling block assembly and said casing grippingslips are engaged with said upper joint of said casing string.
 12. Theassembly of claim 10, wherein said tapered guide defines a fluid outlet.13. A method for constructing a flexible lower assembly of a fill-up andcirculation tool for use in a subterranean well, said fill-up andcirculation tool comprising a tool body and a casing seal mounted tosaid tool body operable for scaling with an interior surface of an upperjoint of said casing string, said fill-up and circulation tool beingoperable for use with a rig comprising a traveling block assembly towhich said fill-up and circulation tool is attachable, said rig furthercomprising casing gripping slips mounted to said traveling blockassembly for engaging said upper joint of said casing string, saidmethod comprising: mounting a flexible hose to said tool body; andmounting a rigid tubular to said flexible hose on an opposite side ofsaid flexible hose from said tool body such that said rigid tubular isinsertable into said upper joint of said casing string.
 14. The methodof claim 13, further comprising providing a guide at a lower end of saidrigid tubular, said guide being insertable into said upper joint of saidcasing string.
 15. The assembly of claim 14, further comprisingproviding a tapered exterior surface on said guide.
 16. The assembly ofclaim 13, further comprising forming a fluid outlet adjacent said rigidtubular.
 17. The assembly of claim 13, further comprising providing anoverall length of said flexible hose and said rigid tubular such thatrigid tubular is completely contained within an interior of said upperjoint of said casing string when said fill-up and circulation tool isattached to said traveling block assembly and said casing gripping slipsare engaged with said upper joint of said casing string.